Is it all new? Welcome to 2018

By Grockle et al
December 31 2017

Happy New Year to one and all. 2018 arrives and it's less than 100 days to the first CC1 game of the new season and we are the side there by the skin of our teeth. What does this year hold I wonder? Here's a few things to ponder.

A new management team, a (sort of) new coaching team, a new main intenational signing. The last season for the Chair and possibly for a Somerset cricketing icon. More to come? Probably but that is enough to be going on with on the first day of a new year.

The new man in charge Lee Cooper made it pretty clear that this was a new broom sweeping clean. Matt Maynard has gone by mutual consent and in comes Andy 'Sarge' Hurry to the apprehension of some and the 'Thank God' of others. Jason Kerr continues the rise that his results deserve - he's now in the heady position of Boss Coach - good luck to the man, he is there on merit in my humble opinion. Daz Venness has gone to Surrey and we will now see, one way or the other, whether the perception that bowler injury is created by strength and conditioning is a myth or not. Our actual record of injury has been overblown by some of the posters on this site anyway so it will have to be carefully looked at when we get some more facts I supppose. Andy Nash will chair the county for the next month and will step down at the AGM in early 2018 (thanks Tom and Bag). Many have lost faith in him after the Urban 2020 vote and their view that he gave up the county for his own agenda. His view is different and has more to do with the future of the game. The final record will be something for the history books I supppose

Besides the backroom boys there are team changes and questions. Jim Allenby is on his way (probably back to Glamorgan in some kind of training role) and won't be missed by many. A marriage that didn't work. Craig Overton has hit the international rollercoaster and after an impressive debut and a brave performance afterwards he may be on extended leave for the summer. Lewis Gregory has a new metal back and may well be a kingpin in our short format game while faith is still strong in the club skipper Tom Abell who retains his position and will look for a second start to that role after the nightmare of the first half of 2017.

Jamie Overton will be fit for the start of another season. How long he will stay that way and how long he will be with his county if he stays healthy and England becomes desperate for a pace bowler with some pace is yet to be determined. We need his presence at the start of the season, especially if the other twin is engaged elsewhere after the New Zealand leg of the winter.

The Older faction will be back for another campaign. Pete Trego may be less of an allrounder and more of a batting force but I hesitate to write off his bowling yet. The man is as fit as a butcher's dog and seems as committed to the fray as ever. He's done it before can he reallyu do it again? Marcus Trescothick is still a force to be reckoned with on his day with the bat but how many more of those days are there? Every time he is written off he comes back but it has taken time in the past. Can Somerset afford to wait and will this be the last hurrah? James Hildreth is the established batsman and has to come out of the pavilion ready to provide that base week in and week out for his side. Steve Davies came with promise and provided very little in 2017 until it was almost too late. A man with his quality cannot have lost it entirely and we will all be expecting the batsman we expected to don the whites, pick up his bat and gloves for his second season. Tim Groenewald will be there to provide the same bowling base he has for a number of seasons now. Even Johann Myburgh will be back to cause short form mayhem and I for one am looking forward to that with great anticipation. Then of course there is Reolof, the man you can never predict whatever the format. What will he do this year?

Cameron Bancroft is not a name that has been bandied about in international circles for very long. He has appeared in the Ashes line-up for Australia as David Warner's opening partnership and will fulfill some role like that for his new county in the Championship. Have Somerset invested wisely? The jury is most definitely out on that until he arrives. He knows the West Country as he has spent time with Gloucestershire, but that was CC2 and this is CC1 and the record needs to be better this time around in more taxing conditions.

Jack Leach has been overlooked again when his country could have done with someoone like him. Dom Bess has had a good winter and will come back as a more mature bowler (if thsat is possible).Max will be back for the T20 as usual. Young guys will come through. Eddie and George will be looking for batting places, we need some young bowlers if the Overton's are taken away or injured. An experienced 'leftie' would be a bonus but he'd have to be domestic or Kolpak. That is going to be interesting and it may provide another chance for Josh Davey to step up.

There's more to come before the start of April and lots to discuss in relation to this lot. 2018 will this be the one - we've been asking since 1994 and have got so close at times? There aren't many of the old type left so we'd better get a move on or it will literally be too late. We are here to talk about it all - it's never dull. Out with the old and in with the new - WELCOME BACK MY FRIENDS TO THE SHOW THAT NEVER ENDS. We invite you to attend. Come inside Come inside.

Really? Could be. Will change it if that's the case. But when I was talking him in late September he was talking as if he had another year so I simply assumed he was talking about the AGM at the end of the 2018 season. Not the one at the end of 2017 that happens in 2018.

Makes sense I suppose.

Go on.... have a bit if a think about 'Tommy' bet you can work it out if you try really really hard.

Having survived nearly two weeks when air temperatures haven't risen above -22C & have frequently dipped below -30C for prolonged periods, I'm rather looking forward to April at the County Ground in balmy single digit weather !

May 2018 bring us all continuing passion and enthusiasm for all matters SCC.

And perhaps a trifle less bickering.

It will be so refreshing for us to hit our straps in the early weeks of the season, rather than waiting until mid July.

Thanks, Grockle, for getting the new year started with a nice balance of optimism and reality. In a life now much closer to its end than its beginning I can see no point in getting cast down by pessimism.

And thanks for keeping this site going for yet another year, providing as it does so much information, occasional brilliance, flashes of great humour and continuing friendships.

Tom! Please don't incite the posters to start public spats this early in 2018.

Posters! Please follow Tom's earlier advice and report any posts you are unhappy about via the SN or PM system

Many of our posters use camouflage in their posts because the bald faced snidey one will be removed. Some other posters have also been here a long time, know the poster style, their usual camo and their true meaning. Maybe once you have been here longer Tom......

Onlinespats.com or some other sports sites may be more willing to accommodate those who don't like their fellow posters.

Grockles tries to operate a more ameanable system though some do try the patience occasionally. Spats online though? Perish the thought. Even in the off season.

"Tom! Please don't incite the posters to start public spats this early in 2018."

Surely Grockle this comment should have been directed to Mikeindex who made the first reference to "snide and derogatory posts." Instead of that you humoured him (at least I think that was the intention) with your post that followed.

There is no "snide and derogatory post" from me on this thread, so I have no cause whatsoever for concern, but as you said, and I have said before, by all means send me a PM should you have any misguided cause for concern.

Did anyone accuse you of such a post? I thought your response to Mike was illicited by your concern for site protocol and not because you felt accused.

Your advice in the post was contrary to that you gave earlier in the season of goodwill so I simply reminded people that the earlier advice was the correct version.

If you can't see any such posts then why would you expect me to take action. I saw one I would identify as such and took what action I deemed necessary in a low key holiday fashion.

As you felt the need to put Mike right I simply took the action necessary to put you both right and highlight the 'Reflections' post which outlines the correct process.

It's all got a bit excitable what with Yuletide high spirits and other spirits perhaps. Don't worry it will calm down I am sure.

Though I must warn you that if you do take things into your own hands should you feel 'slighted' in some way then moderation actions may affect you and the percieved 'slighter'. Especially if this happens during the season when things move more quickly and the site's function is to talk cricket not massage egos.

The only PM you will recieve from me will be to inform you of moderation action taken if any is required.

Tom Seymour"Snide and derogatory posts from certain utterly predictable sources."
Then come out of the woodwork and refer to them specifically Mikeindex, whilst at the same time naming the posters…

Can't say I have found any "snide and derogatory posts" on this thread, but there you go!

You and Clarence of course, Tom. Were you seriously in doubt on that point?
I like the caveat "on this thread" - it's true your snide remarks about Jamie Overton's fitness record (first topic that comes to mind) were on another thread, but this is a thread about the New Year so it seemed to me that general comments about the new year's postings were best placed here. If the site's moderator disagrees he will no doubt take appropriate steps.

I could name and shame the warm ones as well, but I think they know who they are.

Tom Seymour"Posters! Please follow Tom's earlier advice and report any posts you are unhappy about via the SN or PM system."

Grockle's advice and mine. I suggest you do it.

Anything posted publicly here I will respond to publicly as I see fit (unless of course I have more important things to do).
I have said nothing whatsoever about other posters' personal qualities, just the content of their posts, which surely is what we are here to discuss.
I see no reason whatsoever to take this conversation offlist.
However, as both Tom and Clarence have specifically requested an offlist response, I have provided them both with one.
I do hope it will help.

1. I step down at the AGM on 22/1 this year so just over two weeks left!

2. History will rightly be the judge but the facts must be established and on the record. The Club’s General Committee unanimously voted to support the new T20 competition after a lengthy debate across the game and having received and reflected upon a comprehensive written paper from CEO Guy Lavender and myself. Our paper set out the background, pros and cons and other rationale but given the strategic importance of the issue deliberately did NOT make a recommendation to the GC. Contrary to the perception of some the Club’s GC is comprised of many professional, well meaning and very independent folk who are more than capable of making their own decisions! As the Member of the ECB for Somerset County Cricket Club (there are 19 of us representing the FCCs and MCC) I consequently voted in accordance with the General Committee’s decision which to my mind is exactly as the process should be.

Thanks Deacon for the confirmation. I'm a confused old man!! Enjoy your last fortnight and good luck in your future endeavours.

Management were always between a rock and a hard place. You know that I personally believe you were manipulated by the central powers and eventually had no real influence over the final decision (it was never going to be anything but approval IMO).

People on here are divided as I said in the summary. You have always been willing to come and explain the reasoning behind decisions and Grockles appreciates that candour.

Committee versus Fanbase is always going to be a debate and history will be the only judge. All we can do is state our positions clearly for that post analysis and we thank you for always being willing to come and put that here. It is something Somerset have been willing to do since we started.

'Snide' and 'Derogatory' posts about the cricket environment can usually be dealt with on site by just referring to the actual facts.

Other posts can be designed to provoke posters and are not related to the cricket environment but have that objective only. Should they be referred than they will probably go or be 'adapted' and in some cases when it is regular or constant I may step in unilaterally.

I'm happy for an anti 'derogatory' debate about cricket situations to be discussed. Sometimes the 'snideness' gets too personal and then the debate will have to go off site if people can't control themselves.

Discuss a topic and stay on it and there is no real problem disagreements about how things are seen are pretty much inevitable . But discuss each other and nothing else and we may see things moving to PM as in this case.

Grockles is not some kind of internet etiquette debate forum, especially if the agenda is to use that topic to further provoke people who are here to talk about cricket.

I'm the arbiter and if you can't sort it out then I will do it for you ladies and gentlemen.

Yes Tom surprisingly he used this site as did Peter Anderson before him eventually. I'm not sure he was 'as obliging' as Andy but like Richard Gould they do see the value of such things in the grand scheme.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment.
We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals.
We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards.
If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing
abuse@sportnetwork.net